Container inspection machine



R. SPURR CONTAINER INSPECTION MACHINE Jan. 21, 1969 INVENTOR. ROBERTSPURR Sheet E I? I; G

Filed Sept. 1, 1965 ATTORNEYS Jan. 21, 1969 R. SPURR V CONTAINERINSPECTION MACHINE Sheet Filed Sept. 1, 1965 Jan. 21, 1969 R. SPURRCONTAINER INSPECTION MACHINE Sheet 3 of8 Filed Sept. 1, 1965 Jan.21,1969 r I RSPURR 3,422,542

CONTAINER INSPECT ION MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1965 7 Sheet 4 of 8 R.SPURR CONTAINER INSPECTION MACHINE Jam-21, 1969 Filed Sept. 1, 1965 Jan.21, 1969 R. SPURR r 3,422,542

CONTAINER INSPECTION MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1965 Sheet of 8 FIG 8 Jan.21, 1969 R. SPURR CONTAINER INSPECTION MACHINE Sheet Filed Sept. 1, 1965Jan. 21, 1969 RQSPURR CONTAINER INSPECTION MACHINE United States Patent12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for inspectingcontainers, especially glass bottles, while they are being transportedin a line on a conveyor. Inspection is made for defects in height andthe inner and outer dimensions of the necks and for leaners. The machineincludes a mechanism which reciprocates over the conveyor andlongitudinally thereof, this mechanism having a plurality of testingdevices which are lowered automatically to engage and test a series ofbottles simultaneously while the mechanism is moved in the direction ofthe conveyor, and then the mechanism is returned to engage the nextequal series of bottles on the conveyor.

This invention relates to a container inspection machine and, morespecifically, to a machine which is particularly adapted for theinspection of glassware containers such as bottles, jars and the likefor various dimensional imperfections.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a compact, simplyinstalled machine for inspecting or gaging bottles or like articles asto several of their dimensions in anticipation of their subsequent usein automatic filling machines, capping machines and the like. That is,it is desired to provide a machine which will inspect or gage thecontainers to be sure that they are of proper height, that they havecorrectly located openings of proper size to receive filling tubes, andto be sure that the container finish around such openings are such thatthey can be properly capped, whereby to avoid jamming or othermalfunction of the filling and capping machines or other machines whichmust later handle the containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container inspectingmachine having the foregoing characteristics and which is readilyadaptable for use with but a minimum of adjustment for a wide variety ofcontainers of various sizes and shapes.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide such amachine for inspecting containers which is fully automatic and which isadapted to inspect simultaneously a plurality of containers moving in acontinuous single line and which is also adapted to perform theinspection operations at a high rate of speed which is in keeping withthe high rate of speed at which containers can be manufactured forinspection.

As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the machine providedin accordance with the present invention includes a continuously movingconveyor of the link-belt type which can readily be aligned with aninfeed conveyor and with a take-away conveyor. Feed means are associatedwith the machine conveyor to arrange bottles or other containers to beinspected in regularly spaced positions in a single line on the movingconveyor so that the bottles will be properly spaced as they movethrough the machine.

The machine includes a head which reciprocates longitudinally of theconveyor and which during its operating stroke moves along with and inoperative association with a selected number of bottles to be inspected.There is a bottle support structure carried by this head which engagesthe bottles during the operating stroke of the head to assure theirproper position for engagement by vertically movable inspecting deviceswhich move down to engage the bottle top portions. The inspection of theplurality of bottles is completed in a very brief time, and adimensional imperfection in a bottle or in any one of the bottles causesthe vertically movable inspecting device to be improperly positionedvertically. The improper position of the inspecting device causes it toengage and actuate a switch mechanism as the inspection head moves alongwith the bottles on the conveyor. The actuation of the switch operates arejection mechanism through a memory circuit to reject the imperfectbottle after it and the series of bottles in which it is included hasmoved away from the inspection head. The bottle positioning structuredisengages itself from the inspected series and on the return stroke ofthe head it is re-positioned to engage the next series of bottles to beinspected.

The drawings show preferred embodiments of the invention and suchembodiments will be described, but it will be understood that variouschanges may be made from the constructions disclosed, and that thedrawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limitingthe scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of thisspecification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a container inspection machineincorporating the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right-hand end view of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the upper portion of themachine shown in FIG. 1 but with the front panel removed therefrom toreveal details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the drive train utilized inthe machine;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top view of a portion of the machine conveyor atthe infeed end thereof;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through the machine conveyoras indicated by the line 66 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a rather diagrammatic perspective view of the inspection heador head plate and showing the manner in which it is operated within themachine;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view showing one of the verticallyreciprocable inspecting devices carried by the head plate;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken through the inspecting deviceas indicated by the line 9-9 of FIG. 8 but showing the device inengagement with a bottle being inspected;

FIGS. 10 through 17 show rather schematically the operation of thetesting or gaging device, FIG. 10 illustrating the device in itselevated position, FIG. 11 showing the device in its lowered positionand engaging a bottle which passes inspection, FIG. 12 showing thedevice in a lowered position with no bottle present to be inspected,FIG. 13 showing the device as it engages a leaning or distorted bottle,FIG. 14 showing the device engaging a bottle which has too small of aneck opening, FIG. 15 showing the device engaging a bottle which has toolarge of a neck opening, FIG. 16 showing the device engaging a bottlewhich has an oversize finish surrounding the neck opening, and FIG. 17showing the device engaging a bottle which is too tall;

FIG. 18 is a schematic top plan view of the bottle positioning structureof the machine adapted to engage for inspection a series of six bottles;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 but shows the bottle supportstructure adapted to engage and inspect three bottles in a series ofbottles which are of larger diameter; and

FIG. is a perspective view showing an alternative reject switchactuating structure.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the machine of this invention has a floor base10 from which legs 12, 12 extend to support a lower cabinet and framestructure 14. A drive motor and other drive mechanisms are locatedwithin the lower cabinet 14 and they include means for driving anendless link belt type conveyor 16 which extends across the front of themachine with its upper extent horizontal and moving from left to rightas viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3.

The frame structure of the machine also includes an upper cabinet 18which is supported over the lower cabinet 14 on a pair of posts 20, 20.The upper cabinet 18 houses the test apparatus which performs the gagingor testing on the containers, such as the bottles B, B (FIG. 3), whichare moved along the upper extent of the conveyor 16 below theoverhanging front portion of the upper cabinet 18. The said uppercabinet and the testing apparatus which it supports can be adjustedvertically for use in association with other bottles or other containersof different height by turning a handwheel 22 located at the top of thesaid cabinet. This handwheel 22 rotates a shaft 24 which is threadedinto one of the posts 20, and by means of a sprocket and chainconnection 26 (FIG. 3) a similar shaft 28 is rotated within the otherpost 20. Thus, in rotating the handwheel 22 in one direction, the uppercabinet 18 and all of the mechanism which it houses is raised on theposts 20, 20, and rotation of the handwheel in the opposite directionlowers the cabinet and mechanism on the said posts.

As was mentioned, much of the drive structure for the machine of thisinvention is located within the lower cabinet 14. As shown quiteschematically in FIG. 4, this drive structure includes an electric drivemotor 30 having its drive shaft connected as by a belt 32 and a variablespeed pulley 34 to the input shaft 36 of a gear box 38. There are fouroutput shafts extending from the gear box 38, one of which is the shaft40. The output shaft 40 is connected as by a chain and sprocket or by abelt and pulley or other suitable motion transmitting means indicatedgenerally at 42 to drive the front shaft 44 for the endless beltconveyor 16. The conveyor shaft 44 is located at the right-hand end ofthe conveyor 16 as it is viewed in FIG. 1.

Another of the driven output shafts extending from the gear box 38 isthe cycle shaft 46 which extends horizontally to the left to projectoutside of the lower cabinet 14 for driving connection, as will bedescribed, to a feed worm 48 which moves the bottles B, B or othercontainers into properly spaced positions on the conveyor 16 as they aremoved through the machine.

Another of the driven output shafts from the gear box 38 is the splinedvertical shaft 50 which extends upwardly into the upper cabinet 18 andinto an upper gear box 52 located therein. The upper gear box 52 hasoutput shafts which operate the testing mechanisms or apparatus as willbe described, and the shaft 50 is splined to accommodate the verticaladjustment of the upper cabinet 18 and the testing mechanisms withoutdisconnecting the driving engagement with the lower gear box 38.

The last output shaft from the lower gear box 38 is the shaft 54 whichextends horizontally in the opposite direction from the cycle shaft 46.The shaft 54 is not used in the machine as shown herein, but lit isprovided as a drive shaft for accessory equipment which can beassociated with the machine. The shaft 54 can also be used as a cycleshaft if the bottles are moved on the conveyor in the oppositedirection.

Turning now to a description of the operation of the feed worm 48 andthe mechanism associated therewith, reference will be made particularlyto FIGS. 3-6. It will be seen that the feed worm 48 is mounted on ashaft 56 which extends horizontally and longitudinally of the conveyor16 near the inner 0r rearward longitudinal edge thereof. The worm shaft56 is fixedly supported adjacent its right-hand end in a bracket 58which is pivotally adjustably mounted on the left-hand end of the lowercabinet 14 for pivotal adjustment about the axis of the cycle shaft 46which projects outwardly from the said left-hand end of the cabinet. Asupport bar 60 also extends outwardly from the bracket 58, and an outerbracket 62 is connected between the outer or left-hand end of thesupport bar nd the outer or left-hand end of the worm shaft 56 to helpsupport the worm in the horizontal position.

A drive sprocket 64 is connected to the projecting end of the cycleshaft 46 to drive a chain 66 which is entrained over a driven sprocket68 on the worm 48 whereby the said worm is rotated on its support shaft56. As the said worm is driven, its flutes receive the bottles B, B orother containers in equally spaced relationship between its flights orconvolutions. As the bottles move along on the conveyor 16, they aremoved into engagement with the feed worm 48 by means which have not beenshown as a matter of drawing convenience. Such means preferablycomprises a series of spring loaded fingers which are located over andalong the conveyor 16 opposite the left-hand end of the worm 48. Thesefingers project rearwardly to guide the bottles into engagement with theworm. Also, means are provided to maintain the bottles in engagementwith the worm and such means may comprise an arm (not shown) which canbe pivotally supported over the conveyor on the vertical post 70 (FIGS.1 and 3) which is supported at the left-hand end of the upper cabinet18. This arm is preferably spring biased to swing toward the worm 48 andthereby maintain the bottles in engagement with the worm.

The purpose of having the worm support bracket 58 pivotally adjustablysupported on the lower cabinet 14 is to use the same worm in thehandling of bottles or other containers of different size, as is shownin FIGS. 5 and 6. When the bottles B, B are of relatively smalldiameter, the bracket 58 is adjusted about its pivot on the axis of thecycle shaft 46 so as to project the worm 48 forwardly over the conveyorto the full line position shown. In handling of such relatively smalldiameter bottles, the bottles engage rather deeply in the flutes of theworm. When a rather large diameter bottle such as the bottle B, shown inbroken lines in FIGS. 5 and 6, is being tested, the bracket is pivotedto move the Worm 48 rearwardly to the broken line position shown. Inoperating upon the large diameter bottles B, the bottles engage only theouter portions of the worm flutes.

As the bottles B, B leave the feed worm 48 they are locatedsubstantially along the center line of the conveyor 16 in equally spacedrelationship wherein the spacing is quite precise as dictated by thesize and pitch of the feed worm. This rather precise spacing of thebottles and control of conveyor speed are desirable and are accomplishedso that the bottles can be easily engaged by a notched rake 72 which isshown in FIGS. 1-3 and 7 and which is operated in synchronization withthe conveyor. This rake in the example shown is provided with six evenlyspaced notches for engagement simultaneously with a series of sixbottles B, B which have been spaced by the feed worm. The rake issupported horizontally over the conveyor 16 with its notches facingforwardly toward a horizontal guide rail 74 which extends across thefront of the machine over the conveyor and which is supported on theleft-hand post 70 and a similar right-hand post 76 which is supported atthe righ-hand end of the upper cabinet 18. The rake 72 and guide rail 74are preferably supported in substantially the same horizontal plane, butfor convenience of illustration the rake 72 has been shown slightlyabove the plane of the guide rail 74 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The rake is supported on two vertical posts which are spaced apartlongitudinaly of the rake. These posts are designated the left-hand post78 and the right-hand post 80. These posts depend from the equipmentwithin the upper cabinet 18 and they are so supported by such equipment(as will be described) that the rake 72 can be moved forwardly on aslight arc while maintaining a parallel relationship with the centerline of the conveyor 16. In such forward movement, the rake engages aseries of six bottles being moved along by the conveyor 16 within itsnotches, pressing the bottles against the longitudinally extending guiderail 74. This precisely positions the bottles for testing operation bythe overhead testing devices which will be described. Then, the rake ismoved along longitudinally and in precisely timed relationship with themovement of the conveyor 16 for a suflicient distance to permitcompletion of the testing operations simultaneously on the six engagedbottles. Then, the rake is moved rearwardly, but on a slight arc whilemaintaining parallel relationship with the center line of the conveyor.This disengages the rake from the six bottles which have been tested,and the rake is then moved toward the left, opposite to the direction ofmovement of the conveyor 16, to its initial position. Then, the rake ismoved forwardly again to engage the next series of six bottles beingmoved by the conveyor.

The means moving the left and right rake support posts 78 and 80 and forthus moving the rake as described is operatively associated with thetesting devices to be described and is located within the upper cabinet18. The said means includes a head plate 82 (FIGS. 3, 7, 8 and 9). Thesaid head plates is reciprocated in a straight horizontal path extendinglongitudinally of but over the conveyor 16. The head plate is supportedfor such reciprocation and in a vertical plane on a pair of upperrollers 84, 84 which are rotatable on pins extending horizontallyrearwardly from the upper end of the head plate, the rollers ridingalong a horizontal upper guide bar 86 which extends from left to rightin the upper cabinet 18. One or more rollers 88 located on pinsextending rearwardly from the head plate 82 engage the underside of theupper guide bar '86 to prevent the rollers 84, 84 from becomingdisengaged from the guide bar as the head plate is reciprocatedlongitudinally of the machine. The head plate is further supported forsuch reciprocation and to insure vertical positioning of the head plateand its associated elements by a pair of rollers 90, 90' engaging thefront and rear sides of a lower guide bar 92. The rollers 90, 90 arerotatably supported on vertical pins 94, 94 which hang from a rearwardlyextending bracket 96 secured to the head plate 82. Preferably, there aretwo such brackets provided, one of the brackets being shown in FIG. 9.

The head plate is driven back and forth 'by an output shaft 98 (FIG. 4)which projects horizontally forwardly from the upper gear box 52 withinthe upper cabinet 18. A sprocket 100 is secured to the projecting frontend of the shaft 98 to receive a chain 102 which is also entrained overa sprocket 104. This chain is supported throughout its upper and lowerextents to properly position the rake for inspection operation.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the pivot pin 106 on one end of a bellcrank 108 is carried by one of the links of the chain 102 throughout itspath of movement which is counterclockwise as viewed in these figures.The intermediate pivot pin 110 of the bell crank 108 is journaled in thehead plate 82 to extend rearwardly therefrom. Thus, as the bell crank108 follows the path of the driven chain 102, the head plate isreciprocated between its furthermost left-hand and righthand positions.Obviously, the bell crank will pivot about its intermediate pivot pin110 when the end pin 106 swings upwardly to the upper extent of thechain 102 at the right-hand end limit of motion of the head plate 82,and the said bell crank will also be pivoted as the end pin 106 swingsdownwardly at the lefthand limit of motion of the head plate.

It is this swinging or pivoting motion of the bell crank 108 which isused to move the rake respectively reara wardly and forwardly at theright and left-hand limits of head plate travel. This can best beunderstood by reference to FIG. 7 wherein it is shown that the left andrighthand rake support posts 78 and 80 are supported on the ends of apair of bell crank brackets 112, 112 which are mounted on the rear ofthe head plate 82 for pivotal movement on vertical axes. The free armsof the bell crank brackets 112, 112 are interconnected for simultaneousidentical movement by a cross link or interconnecting link 114 and thefree arm or end of the righthand bell crank bracket 112 is connected tothe third or other end pivot pin 116 on the bell crank 108 by a springloaded connecting arm 118.

Thus, as can be readily understood by reference to FIG. 7, when the bellcrank 108 swings counterclockwise at the limit of right-hand movement ofthe pin 106 on the drive chain 102, which is the limit of right-handmovement of the head plate 82, the bell crank brackets 112, 112 will bepivoted generally clockwise as viewed in this figure to move the rake 72rearwardly out of engagement with the bottles B, B in a slight arc.Likewise, when the limit of left-hand movement of the head plate 82 isreached, the bell crank 108 will be pivoted clockwise and this willcause counterclockwise movement of the bell crank brackets 112, '112 tomove the rake 72 forwardly on a slight are into engagement with a newseries of six bottles. It is significant to note that the engagement ofthe rake 72 with the bottles is resilient. That is, the rake 72 can beforced rearwardly against the compression of the spring 120 which loadsthe connecting arm 118. There is an advantage in this in that bottlebreakage is avoided in the event a bottle is knocked over and is restingon its side while moving along the conveyor 16 as the rake 72 movesforwardly toward its engaged position.

We shall now consider the inspecting devices per se of which there aresix in number, each being indicated generally by the reference number122. These inspecting devices 122, 122 are supported for verticalmovement relative to the head plate 82 and move horizontally with thehead plate so that there will be one such inspecting device operativelyassociated with each bottle in the series of six positioned by the rake72 below the head plate and moving along the conveyor 16.

As best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the testing device 122 comprises a tube124 which fits downwardly into a sleeve 126. As will be describedhereinafter, the telescoping tube and sleeve carry test or gagingelements at their lower ends, and they are interconnected by a lockingpin 128. That is, the locking pin 128 is thrust rearwardly throughdiametrically opposed vertical slots 130, 130 in the sleeve '126 and itis thrust through suitable holes which are diametrically opposed in thewall of the tube 124. A spring loaded detent pin 132 within the tube 124engages in a notch in the locking pin 128 when it is properlypositioned. Thus, the tube 124 is free to move axially within the sleeve126, its limit of such movement being fixed by the upper and lower endof the slots 130, 130 when they are engaged by the transversely orforwardly and rearwardly extending locking pin 128. The detent pin 132is actually carried within the tube 124 at the upper end of a probe,which will be described, and thus locking pin 128 serves to secure thesaid probe in the tube.

All six testing devices 122, 122 move downwardly into operativeassociation with the six bottles of the series en gaged by the rake 72when the head plate 82 starts to move from left to right. All sixtesting devices are lifted simultaneously as the head plate reaches orapproches the right-hand end of its travel. The testing devices arelowered by gravity and are lifted simultaneously by a horizontal liftbar 134 (FIGS. 3, 7, 8 and 9) which also acts to control the rate ofdropping movement of the testing devices at less than the speed ofgravity. The operation or movement of the lift bar 134 will soon bedescribed, but for the present it is to be observed that the lift barextends horizontally to engage beneath a roller 136 on the rear end of apin 138 projecting rearwardly from 7 the upper end of the inner tube 124of each testing device 122.

The vertical movement of each testing device 122 is guided between apair of upper rollers 140, 140 which are rotatable on the front face ofthe head plate 82 and which engage the inner tube 122 on opposite sidesthereof. The vertical movement of each testing device is further guidedby a pair of lower rollers 142, 142 on the front of the head plate andwhich engage opposite sides of the sleeve 126.

The drive and movement of the lift bar 134 will be described withreference to FIGS. 4 and 7 wherein it will be seen that an output shaft144 from the upper gear box 52 extends rearwardly therefrom and rotatesa crank 146 at its outwardly projecting end. The free end of the crank146 has a roller 148 thereon which rides in a cam slot 150 in one arm152 of a bell crank which pivots on a shaft 154 mounted in the machineframe. As the crank 146 is rotated, it rocks the said bell crank on itspivot pin or shaft 154 in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 7. However, there is a dwell in this rocking movement ofthe bell crank caused by the configuration of the cam slot, the cam slotconfiguration causing the dwell being indicated by the referencenulrnber 156.

When the bell crank is pivoted clockwise on the pin 154, it rotates arock shaft 158 (FIG. 7) clockwise, the said rock shaft and bell crankbeing interconnected by a crank arm 160 and a connecting link 162. Acrank arm 164 on the other end of the rock shaft 158 is pivotallyconnected to the lift bar 134 at the right-hand end thereof to move thesaid bar toward the right and downwardly. The bar is kept in ahorizontal plane by means of another crank arm 166 pivotally connectedto the other end of the lift bar 134 and which is pivoted by means of adiagonal link 168 connected to a crank arm 170 on the same axis as thecrank anm 166 and also connected to a crank arm 172 on the same axis asthe crank arm 164. When the bell crank is rocked counterclockwise on thepivot 154 by the crank 146, the lift bar 134 is moved upwardly.

The timing relationship between operation of the lift bar 134 and thereciprocation of the head plate 82 is achieved in the gear box 52 and issuch that the lift bar 134 will be lowered and raised during movement ofthe head plate 82 from left to right. Likewise, the lift bar 134 willagain be lowered and raised during movement of the head plate from rightto left. However, the lowering and raising of the lift bar duringleft-to-right movement of the head plate is effective to lower and raisethe testing devices 122, and the lowering and raising of the lift barduring right-to-left movement of the head plate is ineffective to lowerand raise the testing devices.

That is, when the head plate 82 reaches the left-hand limit of itstravel, a horizontallocking bar 174 slidably carried by the head plate82 will engage a stop 175 on the machine frame to shift the locking bar174 slightly to the right relative to the head plate. This locking bar174 has a series of six vertical notches 176, 176 spaced along itslength for association with each of the six testing devices 122, 122,respectively. With the shifting of the locking bar 174 to the rightrelative to the head plate 82, its notches 176, 176 will be aligned withthe respective testing devices 122, 122 so that the locking pins 128,128 on the various testing devices will drop through the notches 176,176 as the lift bar 134 is lowered. This permits the testing devices tobe lowered into operative positions with respect to the bottles beinggaged or inspected.

As has been described, the lifting bar will be elevated before the headplate 82 reaches the full extent of its right-hand travel and as thelifting bar is elevated it lifts the testing devices 122, the lockingpins 128, 128 passing upwardly through the respective notches 176, 176in the horizontal locking bar. Then, when the head plate 82 reaches thefull extent of its right-hand travel, the righthand end of the lockingbar will engage a stop 178. Like the left-hand stop 175, the right-handstop 178 is mounted on the frame so that it is engaged by the right-handend of the locking bar 174, the said locking bar will be shifted to theleft relative the head plate 82. This causes the slots 176, 176 in thesaid locking bar to move out of alignment with the respective testingdevices 122, 122. Thus, when the lifting bar 134 is lowered during therighthand to left-hand movement of the head plate 82, the testingdevices 122 will not be lowered because the locking pins 128, 128 willengage the top of the locking bar 174 and prevent downward movementthereof.

As has been said, each inspection device 122 is lowered into engagementwith a bottle B in order to inspect or gage it. The bottle will passinspection if the tube 124 and sleeve 126 of the inspection device areboth permitted to be lowered to a known elevation, and no more or noless, when the inspection device engages the bottle. In the event thebottle fails to pass inspection, an event causing either the tube 122and/or the sleeve 126 not to reach their known elevations, an electricalswitch is actuated to provide an electrical signal in circuitry whichwill store or memorize the signal so as to later operate a rejectmechanism which will push the faulty bottle from the line on theconveyor.

There is one such reject signal switch provided for operativeassociation with each testing or inspecting device 122, and the seriesof six switches thus provided are mounted on the frame in the uppercabinet 18 for actuation by means on the passing testing devices whichare carried by the moving head plate 82. An example of such switchdevice is indicated generally by the reference number 180 in FIG. 9 andis seen to include a blade-like actuator or flag 182 which is pivotableon center point pins 184, 184 but which is biased by a torsion spring186 to the normal position shown in FIG. 9. That is, when the flag 182is in the position shown, the switch 180 will not be closed to provide areject signal, but when the flag is engaged by some means and pivotedfrom its normal position during the passing movement of the inspectiondevice 122, the switch 180 will be energized to cause the reject signal.

The means for engaging and moving the flag 182 from its normal positioncomprises two pins, one being the locking pin 128 on the tube 124 andthe other being a pin 188 carried by the sleeve 126 of the inspectiondevice 122. Both of these pins project forwardly from the inspectiondevice, and as shown in FIG. 9, when the inspection device is loweredinto engagement with a bottle B to gage the same, and if the bottlepasses inspection, the said pins will not engage and move the flag. Thatis, when the inner tube 124 is lowered to its proper known elevation asa result of engagement with a satisfactory bottle, the forwardlyprojecting end of the pin 128 will pass through a notch 190 on the flag.In the event the tube 124 cannot be lowered to the proper point, the pin128 will engage the flag 182 above the notch 190 in the area designated192. In the event the tube 124 falls below the desired level, the pin128 will strike an appendage 194 below the notch 190 to move the flag182 and cause a reject signal. If the sleeve 12-6 is lowered to itsproper elevation as shown in FIG. 9, its pin 188 will pass through anotch 196 in the rearward edge of the flag or blade 182. If the sleevedoes not reach its proper level, the pin will engage an appendage 198over the notch 196, and if the sleeve 126 falls below the desired level,the pin 188 will engage an appendage 200 on the flag 182 below the notch196 and thereby also cause a reject signal. The causes or imperfectionsin the bottles preventing the tube and sleeve from reaching the desiredpoints will be described hereinafter.

As mentioned previously, there are a series of six switches 180, 180,each of which is associated with a specific inspection device 122. Aswas also previously mentioned, the inspection devices are lowered andraised as they are being carried along from left to right by the headplate 82. This movement could cause the actuating pins on one inspectiondevice to actuate the wrong switch and cause a false reject signal if itwere not for the timing and control of the inspecting device lifting bar134. For example, if it were not for the proper timing, the second fromthe left-hand inspecting device might engage and actuate the farthestleft switch 180 as the head plate 82 moves from left to right carryingthe inspecting devices 122, 122 with it. However, the timing of rotationof the crank 146 to rock the bell crank on the pivot 154 is such thatthe inspecting devices 122, 122 will not be lowered until they havepassed the switch 180 which is to the left of the switch they areassociated with, and the inspecting devices will be raised to clear theswitches to the right of those with which they are associated. Morespecifically, the pin 128 on the tube 124 of one inspecting device 122will pass over the flag or blade to the left of its associated switchwhile the pin 188 on the sleeve 126 will pass between the appendages 194and 198. They will likewise clear the flag 182 on the switch to theright of that with which they are associated. The dwell 156 in therocking bell crank cam slot 150 is provided to hold the lift bar 134 upand to maintain the raised condition of the inspecting devices 122, 122as the head plate reaches each end of its travel and thus to permitshifting of the locking bar 174. The inspecting devices dwell in thedown position due to engagement with the bottles.

It is to be understood that each inspecting device 122 can be fittedwith various bottle engaging elements to inspect or gage each bottle Bfor a variety of dimensional defects. In the example shown, eachinspecting device is provided with elements adapted to inspect a bottlefor choke, corkage, and oversize finish around the neck opening,overheight and underheight, and for leaners or bottles which in somemanner have their neck opening axes displaced from the axes of theirbodies.

In adapting each inspecting device 122 for the foregoing tests, a probe202 (FIG. 9) is secured to the bottom end of the inner tube 124 to beprojected into the neck of a bottle B being tested when the inspectingdevice 122 is lowered. Also, a ring gage 204 (FIGS. 8 and 9) is securedto the bottom end of the sleeve 126 as by a generally C-shaped clamp 206(FIG. 8) surrounding the bottom end of the sleeve and fitting in anannular groove 208 (FIG. 9) in the gage. The gage 204 is adapted toreceive the top end portion or finish of the bottle surrounding the neckopening.

As shown in FIG. 9, a bottle B will pass inspection when its neckopening is sufficiently large to receive the probe 202 to the depthshown and not large enough to let the probe descend farther. That is,the bottle will have passed the choke test in permitting the probe toenter for the proper depth and it will have passed the corkage test innot permitting the probe to descend farther than shown. Further, thebottle will have passed the leaner or neck eccentricity test in that theneck opening will be properly located below the inspecting device 122 toreceive the probe. The bottle will have also passed the finishexamination in that the ring gage 204 will slip down over the finishsurrounding the neck opening to the depth shown, and the bottle willhave been found to be not too tall and not too short in permitting theinspecting device to lower to thiejposition shown relative to itsassociated reject signal switch 180.

After the inspection has been completed, the inspecting device 122 islifted by the lift bar 134. A hook-shaped stripper finger 210 is carriedby the head plate 82 for each inspecting device. The end of thishook-shaped finger rides within a slot 212 in the ring gage 204 duringvertical movement of the inspecting device relative to the head plate.If the inspecting device tends to lift the bottle B with it afterperforming the inspecting operation, the end of the stripper finger willengage the top edge of the bottle B and strip it from the inspectingdevice after the bottle has been raised only a very slight distance.

FIGS. 10 through 17 show many of the positions of an inspecting device122 relative to its associated reject switch actuating plate or flag182. In FIG. 10, the inspecting device is shown in an elevated positionwherein v neither of its pins will engage and actuate the flag 182.

This position of the inspecting device relative to its flag is similarto its position in passing over an adjacent flag. It is also itsposition relative to all flags when the head plate is being moved fromright to left.

In FIG. 11 the inspecting device 122 is shown engaged with asatisfactory bottle B. In such .event, the upper pin 128 passes throughthe notch and the lower pin 188 passes through the notch 196 in the flag182 so that no reject signal will result. There will be no reject signalresult either in the condition depicted in FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, theinspecting device 122 is shown lowered to the extreme end of its travel,an event which will occur if there is no bottle positioned to beinspected. In such event, the upper pin 128 passes below the appendage194 and the lower pin 188 passes the bottom appendage 200*.

FIG. 13 shows the condition wherein a bottle fails to pass inspectionbecause it is a leaner or for some other reason has its neck openingoffset from the body. In such event, the ring gage 204 Will engage thetop edge or finish of the bottle and the probe 202 will also engage thetop edge or finish of the 'bottle causing its pin 128 to engage the flag182 in the area 192 and thereby move the flag to create a reject signal.The success of the leaner test is achieved because the rake 72 preciselylocates the bottoms of the bottles relative to the overhead testingdevices.

In FIG. 14 a choke condition is shown. That is, the bottle B fails topass inspection because its neck opening is too small and the probe 202cannot lower itself sufficiently within the bottle. Here again, the pin128 engages the area 192 to actuate the reject signal switch.

FIG. 15 shows the condition existing upon detecting a corkage ldefect.In this case, the probe 202 is permitted to slip too far into the bottledue to an oversize neck opening, and this causes the pin 128 to engagethe flag 182 at the appendage 194.

In FIG. 16 there is shown the condition caused by a bottle having afinish which is too large to be properly capped. In this event, the ringgage 204 will not lower to its proper position, and its pin 188 willengage the flag 182 on the appendage 198.

And finally, FIG. 17 shows the condition arising when a bottle is tootall. The ring gage 204 will not lower to its proper position and againits pin 188 will strike the projection 198. If the bottle is too short,the ring gage 204 will fall too far downwardly and its pin 188 willengage the appendage 200.

In the embodiment of the inspecting machine which has been shown andthus far described, there are a series of six bottles engagedsimultaneously by the rake 72 as shown in FIG. 18 for inspectionpurposes. The machine can readily be adapted to inspect simultaneously aseries of lesser number but of larger bottles B. 'In such event, a rake72a can be used as shown in FIG. 19, the said rake having fewer bottleengaging notches therein. For example, and as shown in FIG. 19, the rakecan be provided with three notches to engage a series of three bottles.In such event, it is only necessary to provide three inspecting devices122, 122 and three switch actuating flags 182, 182. It is not necessaryto remove the unused inspecting devices from the machine. That is, theinspecting devices can still be carried back and forth by the head plate82 but they can be held upwardly in inoperative position. Morespecifically, the unneeded inspecting devices are held upwardly and thelocking pin 128 is thrust rearwardly to engage the top of the head plate82 so that they cannot be lowered 1n the operation of the lifting bar.The unneeded inspecting devices can be restored to operation wheneverneeded merely by pulling the locking pin forwardly to engage the detentpin 132 in the position shown in FIG. 9.

In the operation of the machine described, each of the reject signalswitches 180, 180 is actuated by its flag 182 as a result of any one ofa number of bottle defects which have been described. As mentioned, whena defect is noted and a reject signal is caused thereby, this signal ispassed to conventional circuitry (not shown) wherein it is stored ormemorized to later operate a reject mechanism. This reject mechanism isshown generally by the reference numher 214 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and it isof conventional construction. As shown, the reject mechanism is locatedto the right of the upper cabinet 18, and it includes a plunger whichwill be operated to push a defective bottle from the conveyor 16 as thatdefective bottle reaches a position opposite the reject mechanism.Preferably, the circuitry also includes means for operating a counter216 (FIG. 1) which provides a total count of all containers inspected,and the circuitry can also operate a counter 218 which will show a totalof defective or rejected bottles.

The bottles rejected may be defectivefor any one of sevenal differentreasons which have been mentioned. [In some installations it may bedesirable to note the reason for defect so that if the defect reoccursfrequently for the same reason corrective measures can be taken. In suchevent, a modified reject signal flag structure can be used, thisstructure being shown in FIG. 20. The modified flag structure utilizes aplurality of separate flags 220, 222, 224, 226 and 228. It will beobserved that the arrangement of these distinct flags is similar to thesingle flag 182 of the embodiment described and, therefore, these flagscan be actuated by the same actuating pins 128 and 188 on the inspectingdevices 122, 122. However, each of the flags 220-228 is associated witha different switch, the switches being designated by the references230438, respectively. Each of the said switches will serve to create thereject signal, but they can be included in circuitry which will operatecounters (not shown) to show the number of defective bottles occurringfor each of a number of reasons or defects. Thus, the flag and switcharrangement shown in FIG. 20 will often be preferred because of thediscriminating information provided at the time of inspection.

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine for inspecting glass containers or the like and including acontinuously moving conveyor for advancing a line of containers whichare spaced apart and stand upright in the line, a drive mechanism and ahead driven thereby to reciprocate in a single path longitudinally ofand over the conveyor and at substantially equal speed therewith whenmoving in the same direction, an inspecting device carried by the headand movable thereon into and out of engagement with a container on theconveyor to inspect the same, an element operated by said drivemechanism in timed relationship with said conveyor and head for loweringthe inspecting device into engagement with a container and for liftingit out of engagement therewith only when the head is moving in the samedirection as the conveyor, and a switch having an actuator supported onsaid machine for engagement and operation by said inspecting device onlyas a result of the inspecting device being at other than a predeterminedelevation when engaging the container, whereby a signal is providedindicating the container is defective.

2. A machine for inspecting glass containers or the like and including acontinuously moving conveyor for advancing a line of containers whichare spaced apart and stand upright in the line, a drive mechanism and ahead driven thereby to reciprocate longitudinally of and over theconveyor and at substantially equal speed therewith when moving in thesame direction, a series of inspecting devices carried by the head andmovable thereon into and out of engagement with an equal series ofcontainers on the conveyor to inspect the same, a driven element forsimultaneously lowering the inspecting devices into engagement with thecontainers and for lifting them out of engagement therewith only whenthe head is moving in the same direction as the conveyor, and switchmeans having an equal series of actuators supported on said machine forengagement and operation, each by an associated inspecting device, onlyas a result of its associated inspecting device being at other than apredetermined elevation when engaging a container, whereby a signal isprovided indicating the container is defective, the head being arrangedto move opposite to the direction of the conveyor for repeated operationof the testing devices on the next equal series of containers in theline.

3. A machine for inspecting glass containers or the like and including acontinuously moving conveyor for advancing a line of containers whichare spaced apart and stand upright in the line, a drive mechanism and ahead driven thereby to reciprocate in a single path longitudinally ofand over the conveyor and at substantially equal speed therewith whenmoving in the same direction, an inspecting device carried by the headand movable thereon into and out of engagement with a container on theconveyor to inspect the same, a container positioning mechanism drivenby said drive mechanism to engage and position a container on theconveyor beneath the inspecting device only when said head is moved inthe direction of the conveyor, an element operated by said drivemechanism in timed relationship with said conveyor and head for loweringthe inspecting device into engagement with a container so positioned toinspect the same and for lifting it out of engagement while the head ismoved in the direction of the conveyor, and a switch having an actuatorsupported on said machine for engagement and operation by saidinspecting device as a result of the inspecting device being at otherthan a predetermined elevation when engaging the container, whereby asignal is provided to indicate the container is defective.

4. A machine for inspecting glass containers or the like and including acontinuously moving conveyor for advancing a line of containers whichare spaced apart and stand upright in the line, a drive mechanism and ahead driven thereby to reciprocate in a single path longitudinally ofand over the conveyor and at substantially equal speed therewith whenmoving in the same direction, a series of inspecting devices carried bythe head and movable thereon into and out of engagement with an equalseries of containers on the conveyor to inspect the same, a containerpositioning mechanism drivenby said drive mechanism to engage andposition an equal series of containers on the conveyor beneath theseries of inspecting devices only when said head is moved in thedirection of the conveyor, an element operated by said drive mechanismin timed relationship with said conveyor and head for simultaneouslylowering the inspecting devices into engagement with the containers sopositioned and for lifting them out of engagement while the head ismoved in the direction of the conveyor, and switch means having an equalseries of actuators supported on said machine for engagement andoperation, each by an associated inspecting device, as a result of itsassociated inspecting device being at other than a predeterminedelevation when engaging a container, whereby a signal is providedindicating the container is defective, the head being arranged to moveopposite to the direction of the conveyor for repeated operation of thetesting devices on the next equal series of containers in the line.

5. A machine for inspecting glass containers or the like including adrive mechanism, a driven conveyor for advancing a line of uprightcontainers, a driven feed mechanism for engaging and spacing thecontainers in the line, a head driven to reciprocate in a single pathlongitudinally of and over the conveyor and at substantially equal speedtherewith when moving in the same direction, an inspecting devicecarried by the head and movable thereon into and out of engagement witha container on the conveyor to inspect the same, a container positioningmechanism operable by said drive mechanism to engage and position acontainer on the conveyor beneath the inspecting device only when saidhead is moved in the direction of the conveyor, an element operated bysaid drive mechanism in timed relationship with said conveyor and headfor lowering the inspecting device into engagement with a container sopositioned and for lifting it out of engagement while the head is movedin the direction of the conveyor, and a switch having an actuatorsupported on said machine for engagement and operation by saidinspecting device as a result of the inspecting device being at otherthan a predetermined elevation when engaging the container, 'whereby asignal is provided to indicate the container is defective.

6. A machine for inspecting glass containers or the like including adrive mechanism, a driven conveyor for advancing a line of uprightcontainers, a driven feed mechanism for engaging and spacing thecontainers in the line, a head driven to reciprocate in a single pathlongitudinally of and over the conveyor and at substantially equal speedtherewith when moving in the same direction, a series of inspectingdevices carried by the head and movable thereon into and out ofengagement with an equal series of containers on the conveyor to inspectthe same, a driven container positioning mechanism carried by said headand operated to engage and position an equal series of containers on theconveyor beneath the series of inspecting devices only when the headismoved in the direction of the conveyor, an element operated by saiddrive mechanism in timed relationship with said conveyor and head forsimultaneously lowering the inspecting devices into engagement with thecontainers so positioned and for lifting them out of engagement whilethe head is moved in the direction of the conveyor, and switch meanshaving an equal series of actuators supported on said machine forengagement and operation, each by an associated inspecting device, as aresult of its associated inspecting device being at other than apredetermined elevation when engaging a container, whereby a signal isprovided indicating the container is defective, the head being arrangedto move opposite to the conveyor for repeated operation of the testingdevices on the next equal series of containers in the line.

7. A container inspecting machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein saiddriven feed mechanism includes a rotatable worm engaging containersbetween its convolutions to space the containers apart in the line whilepermitting them to advance with the conveyor.

8. A machine for inspecting glass containers or the like including adrive mechanism, a driven conveyor for advancing a line of containerswhich are spaced apart and stand upright in the line, a head driven toreciprocate longitudinally of and over the conveyor and at substantiallyequal speed therewith when moving in the same direction, a series ofinspecting devices carried by the head and movable thereon downwardlyand upwardly into and out of engagement with an equal series ofcontainers on the conveyor to inspect the same, a driven lift baroperable downwardly and upwardly for simultaneously lowering and raisingthe inspecting devices on the head, the said lift bar being so operableas the head moves with and also as the head moves opposite to theconveyor, means carried by the head and operable automatically when thehead has completed its movement with the conveyor to prevent lowering ofthe inspecting devices as the head moves opposite to the conveyor, thesaid means also being operable automatically when the head has completedmovement opposite the conveyor to permit lowering and raising of theinspecting devices when the head moves with the conveyor, and switchmeans having an equal series of actuators supported on said machine forengagement and operation, each by an associated inspecting device, onlyas a result of its associated inspecting device being at other than apredetermined elevation when engaging a container, whereby a signal isprovided indicating the container is defective, the head being arrangedto move opposite to the conveyor for repeated operation of the testingdevices on the next equal series of containers in the line. I

9. A container inspecting machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein theautomatically operable means carried by the head comprises a locking barengageable with the machine as the head completes movement with andopposite to the conveyor, whereby to shift its position respectively tolock and to unlock the inspecting devices in raised positions.

10. In a machine for inspecting glass containers or the like and whichincludes a head movable with a container being advanced in an uprightposition, an improved inspecting device carried by the head forsubstantially vertical movement downwardly and upwardly into and out ofengagement with the container to inspect the same, the said inspectingdevice comprising a probe, a slotted sleeve telescopically receiving theprobe and having means engageable with the container finish around itsopening to permit entry of the probe into the opening, a switch havingan actuator supported on the machine adjacent the path of the advancingcontainer, a pin carried by said probe and projecting through theslotted sleeve, and a pin carried by said sleeve, both of said pinsbeing arranged independently to engage and operate said actuator if itsassociated probe or sleeve is at other than a predetermined elevationwhen the inspecting device engages the container, whereby a signal isprovided indicating that the inspected container is defective.

11. In a machine for inspecting glass containers or the like which arebeing advanced in an upright position and wherein the machine includesan inspection head having a plate for carrying an inspection device forvertical movement downwardly and upwardly into and out of engagementwith a container as the head moves along ,therewith, an improvedinspecting device comprising a probe, a slotted sleeve telescopicallyreceiving the probe and which has means engageable with the containerfinish around its opening to permit entry of the probe into the opening,a switch having an actuator supported by the machine adjacent the pathof the containers, a pin on the probe projecting through the slottedsleeve, and a pin on the sleeve projecting in the direction of the probepin so that either of said pins will engage and operate said switchactuator if the associated probe or sleeve is at other than apredetermined elevation when the inspecting device engages a containerto provide a signal indicating that the container is defective, and thepin on the probe being manually operable to be engaged with the headplate to retain the inspecting device in an elevated inoperativeposition. a

12,. The improvement in a container inspecting machine as set forth inclaim 11 wherein said switch actuator comprises a notched pivotableflag, the notches in the flag being arranged to permit free passage ofthe pins when the inspecting device is elevated and when the probe andsleeve are disposed at their predetermined elevations with theinspecting device engaging a container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS SAMUEL S. MATTHEWS, PrimaryExaminer.

US. Cl. X.R. 20980, 88; 33l78

